Gingivitis Causes

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Reason for Gingivitis

The most common reason for gingivitis is simply poor oral hygiene as this encourages the formation of plaque. This is the sticky layer that gradually builds up on your teeth over the course of the day and which is mainly comprised of bacteria.

Plaque begins to form when bacteria interact with the starches and sugars found in food. If you brush your teeth thoroughly at least twice a day and floss then most of this plaque is removed. It’s important to get rid of plaque regularly as it will re-form quite quickly, usually beginning to build up over the course of a few hours.

What Happens If Plaque Isn’t Regularly Removed?

If you fail to remove plaque then it will soon harden into a substance called tartar or calculus. This process begins if plaque remains in place for longer than two or three days. You may also develop tartar due to the mineral content in your saliva. The problem with tartar is that it helps to protect plaque bacteria, making them even more difficult to removee. Once formed, it is very difficult to remove and you won’t be able to get rid of tartar by simply brushing and flossing because it is too hard. Instead tartar has to be removed by a dental professional who will use special hand tools to scale or scrape it away.

Failing to have tartar regularly removed increases the chances of your gingiva or gum tissue becoming irritated. Over time the toxins produced by tartar will gradually infect and inflame your gums and you may notice they begin to bleed more easily or will look swollen as gingivitis develops. In addition, tartar also increases your risk of tooth decay.

Risk Factors for Developing Gingivitis

While gingivitis generally develops due to poor oral hygiene, some people are more at risk at certain times during their life or the risk is higher due to certain habits. Factors that can increase the risk of developing gingivitis include:

Smoking or tobacco use

Diabetes

Any disease that affects your immune system, for example leukemia or HIV-AIDS